Pastries, a Bit of Paris and, a Playpen: Georges Andres on Halsey

more hippy Paris in Brooklyn

Georges-Andres Exterior. Photo Cred: The Brownstowner

tucked in between a dry cleaner and unsuspecting day spa, Georges-André Vintage Café is located on a residential block at 558 halsey street in northern bedstuy. the small shop, replete with vintage inspired decor, exposed brick walls, and a makeshift play pen, opened in summer 2013.

superfrench: All vintage, All the Time

The cafe is one in a trio of bedstuy businesses by Superfrench, Brooklynite by way of france. I met Superfrench (no, not her real name, but I don't know what her real name is either) in summer 2012 when she opened her vintage apparel store on the same block. a cute, very hip little lady with an unmistakeably french accent and the cutest mullet you've ever seen, superfrench has made her mark on the hood with her vintage clothing, cafe, yoga  and children's play studio.

The Cafe

Interior: photo cred: Taken by me

The counter and bar. Photo cred: taken by me

 The shop IS SMALL. Seating is limited to a few tacky couches covered in plastic and bar stools in front of the biggest and best windows ever. The shop is very unique in that many of the goods used as decor are also for sale. As superfrench is the mom of a young toddler, she has a makeshift play area that attracts many of the youngest patrons; a bit distracting to folks looking for quiet study time, but if you're into super cuteness overload, you'd love it. 

One of the things that stands out about this place is that there is always a movie playing on the brick wall.It's a quirky and fun thing to see because you can't ever really hear the movie - you just know that it's there.

 
What was in my cup

I never thought i'd say this, but i wasn't in the mood for coffee for once. I'd had several cups the day before and needed a break. so my early gray tea was a pleasant diversion to my caffeine saturated palette. i also wasn't much into the carb fest they had going on either, so i didn't order food either. One thing it made me realize is that these coffee shops need options for those of us who are moderately concerned about caloric intake. there's not much wrong you can do to tea, so i don't have much of a review on that, aside from the fact that the cup was pretty.

 

Overall:
cool spot. Not ideal for long hours of sitting/studying or anything that requires super quiet concentration. I'll likely go back for something on the go, or, to take selfies in the window. the lighting is really the best i've seen yet.

Me & my pretty cup. no filter, ALL sunlight!

But what about the budget brews?

Two chains face off. Photo cred: SocialHead.com

A friend of mine asked me recently: With hundreds of *insert name of popular, well-known, more reasonably priced coffee chain* in the area, why do you opt to go to these overpriced places that suck you in, feed you the same caffeine, and sap your wallet dry?
She had a point. There are four of those chain storefronts within 10 blocks east and west of me. Their lattes (medium sized) are now going for a mere $1.99, compared to a typical $4-7 drink at some of the hot spots I've found. The chain even has fancy flavors inspired by some of my favorite cookies from my childhood. Their doughnuts are a dollar. In coffee shop comparison, they're a real bargain.

In truth, I've caved to the fact that my coffee hopping habit is a part of my household food budget. Since I don't have an single-cup brewer, an espresso machine or the skill to work one, this is what I've settled with...for now. With the increase in visits since the onset of this blog, I've felt it a little deeper. Since I've not been endorsed, or paid in coffee for posting my voluntary thoughts and observations, each visit (and resulting tab) has been a justified by my academic endeavors and in the name of neighborhood love. For the good of the people, you know?

I don't like chain anything. Mass production of product is unsettling to me because I feel like high quantities lose depth of flavor and care of preparation. Usually, I'm not satisfied with the taste of chain coffee because it's not as rich and while there are a handful of things I'll settle for in life, coffee just isn't one of them. A blog post from a small shop owner and roaster shared similar views as mine. He wrote: Independent or “Indie” Coffee shops primarily focus on great coffee or espresso first. Then they may, or may not, branch out into some alternative coffee offerings.  But, great coffee is first and foremost on their minds.  The “indie’s” also make their coffee to stricter standards, using quality brewing methods, NOT by the 10 gallon urn. We grind to order and make our specialty coffee drinks with the utmost care.  Unlike the mega-cafés coffee, that is made by some under-trained “faux-rista” that could, quite frankly, care less what goes into your cup..."

The experience of the coffee shop. Photo cred: Untappedcities.com

On top of that, I know viscerally what coffee shop does for me. It creates an experience and social backdrop that is meaningful. I love community and sharing and experiencing diversity in a very real way. The coffee shops in my neighborhood do just that. There are always people working, families spending quality time, and conversations that are as informative as they are entertaining. People greet and convene and share. The atmospheres are (usually) calming and inviting. The baristas are invested in the quality of your cup, more than just getting to the next order in line. 


So, to my curious and coffee shop conscious friend, I said: some like their bars and pay for that. They spend to get drunk and indulge and uhh...do things. It's a part of their recreation and experience, right?  Same concept, just different context for me. I'll opt for a pretty cup, a strong roast and a sunny spot by the window.

Le Paris Dakar on Nostrand

exterior of Le Paris Dakar, photo cred: Yelp.com

A Bit of Paris in Brooklyn
By way of similarities, Paris and Brooklyn are not two places I’d immediately mention in the same sentence. The quaint cosmopolitanise of the former and the often-perceived grit and grind of the latter are on the surface, dichotomous. And yet, nestled in the middle of a busy BedStuy block, is a café reminiscent of a Parisian patisserie: Le Paris Dakar. Opened in 2012 and located in west BedStuy at 518 Nostrand Avenue on the corner of Macon Street, this street-view shop is known in the area for it’s African-French inspired fare and its hallmark delicacy– the crepe. Its menu boasts a variety of sweet and savory versions and pastry items, along with coffee drinks and culturally inspired specialties sandwiches.

African-French inspiration

Speaking of culture, the shop is the brainchild of Mouna Thiam who was born in Senegal and raised in Paris. Mouna came to New York in an exchange student program and once she moved, began selling crepes from her home. She opened the shop after seeing the vacant storefront, recognizing the hole for French cuisine in the area.

Crepes in process. Photo cred: Steve Meyer for
New York Daily News

The shop is small enough to feel cozy, with enough space to accommodate several small groups of garrulous friends and families. With exposed brick and odes to Africa and Paris seen in the wall art, the shop has the trendiest accoutrements of coffee shops down pact, complete with small round tables, a wooden bench, pillows, and nondescript wooden pieces that add a bit of vintage flair. African art does make the place quite interesting, as does the African funk tunes that play overhead. The most distinct difference from other shops is the open view to the crepe stations, where staff make them to order.

Sites and Sounds
On an early Saturday afternoon, the shop was, as expected, crowded. I sat in the first seat of the shop, which gave me a wide lens view to the customers huddled in their various corners. To my left was a group of young men who spoke very expressively in French, whose accents divulged that they were not Brooklyn natives. Across from them, a mom with her busy young toddler who tore away at the remains of a crepe drenched in Nutella. Behind them, a handsome interracial couple that held hands between sips of their coffee cups (too sweet!). In a far corner, sat another solo woman (afro’d like me) and working feverishly on her laptop.

My order

Feeling indulgent after a tough workout (how’s that for health and self-sabotage?), I went for the strawberry and banana filled crepe with a slight drizzle of Nutella alongside my café au lait. The crepe was good; thin and light, and decadent enough without making me feel

My crepe and coffee. Photo cred: my own

 heavy. This was only my second crepe in life – the first I had in France, which didn’t differ greatly in taste and texture. The coffee was a solid mild roast – quite good with just enough kick to serve as an afternoon pick-me-up. The
downside of my drink order was that it was served in a glass mug. I don’t like like that serving style because the coffee goes cold way too quickly.

While in line, I asked the solo woman (who preferred not to be photographed) if she visited frequently. She, appearing relieved to look at something other than her screen, said that she was there “no less than three times a week.” She explained that she didn’t have a cable and internet package and therefore was one of “those crap tenants that has to borrow Wifi from neighbors or schlubs in cafes and sips the same coffee for hours so I can get work done.” When I told her about my blog and why I was doing it, she shared quite frankly that the shop represented the new normal of her neighborhood. "I’m not from Brooklyn, but I’ve lived here for 10 years and these coffee shops are now a part of our community DNA. There are young, studious, and broke folks here. We need places to be studious and spend what little money we have. Coffee shops like this fulfill that need and give us the social hype that Brooklyn is known for at the same damn time.”

 

Overall:

Nice place. Nice crepes. I wouldn't make this a regular spot because parking is really bad, and crepes aren't my favorite thing. However, since it's on the path that commuters use to get to and from the subway, I can see it being a regular stop for people who live in the immediate area. (I'm a bit southeast from there.)

Other stuff:

A recent article in the New York Daily News titled: The Brooklyn effect: Cities around the world eager to be crowned the newest hipster paradise (published on 11/12/14), drew parallels between Brooklyn and Paris, noting that tables have turned for these cities. Paris, once deemed the mecca of great urban epicenters, is now paled by Brooklyn's sexiness. With such a rise in popularity and more eyes on the place I call home, I wonder how it will continue to impact the culture and demographic of a place that is still very riddled with poverty and low-income earners. 

Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz said in the article: "There is no question that Brooklyn now serves as an example for other urban centers of how a community can transform itself into a hotbed of style."

He forgot to mention coffee shop hotspot, too. 

A Coffee Breakdown

So. What happens when you find your spot in the Stuy...but you don't know what to order?

If you've struggled with knowing what's in everyone's cup, and how you might become cool enough to order a 4-syllable coffee drink, this post is for you!

Truth be written: amidst all of my hopping and sipping around town, I've realized that we need to take a break for a breakdown.

So, from the fine wedding-planning folks at Burnette's Boards, here's a great cheat sheet with definitions and pronunciations so you don't sound stupid know exactly what you're ordering:

This graph is a great starting point for coffee-newbies and veteran drinkers alike. Of course, these are the basics, and now with fancy flavorings, syrups and a bevy of non-dairy milk choices, there are so many ways to spruce up your drink to your liking.

For example, today I'm typing from Nostrand Avenue's Le Paris Dakar, and drinking a salted maple latte, made with almond milk. So, from the above, you'll note that my drink is a combination of steamed milk, espresso, milk foam. To make it special, it is sweetened with pure maple syrup and a sprinkling of salt...a DIVINE pairing.

I'll be back, coffee-buzzed and chatting about a new Bed-Stuy stop in just a few days.

Common Grounds on Tompkins

Thursday night’s coffee stop led me to Common Grounds Neighborhood Coffee Shop, a brightly lit, small eatery located at 376 Tompkins Avenue, between Putnam and Lexington. The shop has been open since March 2007 and is owned by Bed-Stuy native, Tremaine Wright:

The hood:

Common Grounds is located on a busy, west Bed-Stuy avenue nestled between a real estate firm and a bodega on a heavily foot-tracked street.

Common Grounds exterior, courtesy of Yelp.com

The area is served by the A and C train lines which, from the area, takes approximately 30 minutes into midtown Manhattan, which contributes to the number of people who walk the block steadily as part of their commutes. The block is densely populated with a number of small businesses and is one of the quickly developing areas of the neighborhood.

The scene:

On a rainy Thursday evening at 6 p.m., I expected that the crowd would be light. For one, it’s a weeknight, and two – Scandal comes on in a few hours so folks are scurrying to get their wine and snacks ready at home, I’m sure.

Walking into Common Grounds confirmed my conjecture, as there were only two other people there. During my hour-long stay, which culminated at the shop’s closing, there were only three additional walk-in customers.

Common Grounds boasts modern, urban décor.  Brightly colored walls are inviting and though the shop is narrow and on the smaller side, the boldly colored walls open the space and up a bit. There’s a variety of seating options:  four two-seat tables, a small couch, and a few stand-alone stools.  The shop is intimate and comfortable for groups.

Common Grounds Interior, photo taken by me

The music playing (quite loudly, might I add) overhead was a blend of 90s hip hop and R&B -- the song I recall playing upon my entrance was Erykah Badu’s On and On. In addition to the music, there is a flat screen television, that at the time of my visit, played the local Brooklyn news – muted.

To Eat and Drink:

I ordered a fall favorite of mine: a dirty chai latte. By definition, a dirty chai is made of a shot of espresso mixed into a 'chai tea' (or masala chai). It's usually made with a chai concentrate, steamed milk and a single shot of espresso. See this video for an in-depth, how-to video on how to make a dirty chai.

Now, here’s where my impression began to wane. I noticed that my baristo grabbed a chai tea bag, instead of a spice blend or concentrated mix. He proceeded to steep the bag in water and then add steamed milk and espresso, which made for a very weak and watery latte that did not compare with the full-bodied, highly spiced drink that I typically enjoy.  At my slight protest, he chimed: “this is the way we do ours”, which led me to believe that the staff could use a lesson or two on the makings of a good latte.

On the food front: I tried hard to find anything that looked appetizing but to no avail. The pastries were very obviously store bought, as the boxes for the carrot and red velvet cakes were in plain view. There were a few pre-packaged granola bars on the counter and bagels displayed, but the presentation did not entice me, nor am I a fan of going to eateries and paying double for what I could find in a supermarket. There were bags of bulk bread items thrown in the shop’s freezer/ice cream display. My personal feelings are that it’s bad practice to let customers see how a food shop sources their baked goods and entrees. On top of that, I much prefer on-site prepared foods.

The case of prepared foods at Common Grounds

To top off the not-so-stellar impression, my $5.00 unpalatable drink became a task to pay for. As the shop’s “computers were down”, the baristo had took a sketched impression of my card, hand wrote a receipt, and hurriedly said that I shouldn’t worry about my information being compromised. Um, yeah - not reassuring in the least.

Sights and sounds:

There was not much to see and hear here – not at the hour anyway. The baristo was admittedly a new employee who is both new to the neighborhood and New York. He shared that the shop is busier in the mornings and weekends, and that on a “good day there is usually a lot of orders for our Belgian waffles and iced drinks.”

Overall: 

I was underwhelmed by this shop. Perhaps, the time of day impacted the level of service but for me, the shop did not fulfill the experience that I look forward to during my coffee shop crawls, starting with, of course, good coffee. Their seven-year existence does suggest that there is success and sustainability, as does the majority of their positive Yelp reviews. They have been able to weather some substantial changes of the neighborhood and survive as one of the earlier coffee shops, so maybe there is a better experience that I just missed out on. Perhaps one day I'll return, early and on a sunny day. 

Manny's on Patchen

Manny's exterior

Enter Manny’s, quaint coffee shop located on the corner of Patchen and Macon avenues. Formerly shuttered, Manny’s opened in early October, 2014.

The ‘hood:

Quiet, very residential area of East Bed-Stuy, now named *ahem* Stuyvesant Heights per the realty folks. Brownstone-lined blocks and a large elementary school are in the immediate vicinity. There’s a public housing project four blocks north of the shop, and handful of small storefronts. A bodega is close by.

Scene:

It’s 1:00 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon and already bustling. Frankie Lyman's Why Do Fools Fall in Love is playing amidst the din of steaming milk on the vintage espresso machine and the clamoring of pots, pans and coffee mugs.

The setting is unpretentious: the tables are worn and wooden. The décor is a mish mash of rustic vintage, complete with tattered frames with Victorian-era photos. The paint job is intentionally shoddy, I presume, and there’s a huge moose head above a dust-ridden fireplace. They have a beautiful backyard that doubles as additional seating in the warmer temps. As you would guess of any vintage-inspired place, there are mason jars. Lots of them.

Manny's interior

The Food:

There’s a hefty sampling of baked goods – croissants, muffins, scones – all locally sourced and some in-house prepared. They also have a large lunch and dinner menu, complete with salads, soups, burgers and hefty entrees. 

My order: Almond milk latte and steel cut oatmeal with “the works”, for a whopping $12.50. Yikes. The latte is perfect, smooth and strong enough to pick me up with just one shot of espresso, and nutty and creamy with almond milk. The oatmeal was just okay – nothing particularly special about it (but then again how special can you make oatmeal?) and for the price, I’d not likely order it from here again. Nice presentation though.

The Folks:

Steady stream of them. In walk mamas with strollers and baby-wearing dads. There are three couples, one pair fawning over each other as well as their shared French toast.  Mostly young crowd, most appearing to be in their 20s and 30s. I am one of 4 brown faces, and the rest – about 15 are not. A young Asian man is huddled over his laptop looking at what appears to be sketches of some sort.  Several customers are hipster-esque: I spot skinny jeans, two mohawks, several boho jackets and a big floppy sweater from Urban Outfitters. I know this, only because I have the same one.

The Sounds:

I asked Mike, the general manager: Why Bed Stuy?

“That's easy. This is a great neighborhood and it has been for many years. People came in and tried to change it and make it a negative place but now it’s coming back into its own. I really feel like Bed Stuy is

Mike - general manager, and I

gonna be THEE place for the next 15 years, easy. What happened in Williamsburg is a bit much – too Manhattan. Here’s different though – it still has the heart of Brooklyn. There are great people and great families here."

What is the Manny’s way?
It’s simple. At Manny’s everyone is our friend. When you walk through these doors, we want you to feel like you’re home.

I asked Brett, a 40-plus, black male and neighborhood native who grew up just 2 blocks away what he thought of the coffee shop experience:

"This is different. When I grew up, there was no going out on a Sunday morning for breakfast. We gathered at home after worship services. Seeing families file in here is a bit strange, but I guess it’s reflective of what’s going on. You know, I know what people are saying about the white people and what it all means. But I think this is good for the Stuy. People might say I’m biased about the cost of living here because I’m in real estate. I’m actually here because I just showed a house around the corner selling for $1.8 mil (I slightly-gasp at that) – and I know it’s hard for people to wrap their heads around. But this isn’t just happening here. This is anywhere in urban America and I don’t think we should be afraid of it."

While I’m typing, a group of friends sit at my table. Two girls and three guys (mixed races) – they’re nursing hangovers and kvetching about joblessness, medical marijuana and someone's roommate who sucks. Only two of the bunch are native New Yorkers, but none are from Bed-Stuy. One of the girls, who I later learn is from Long Island, shared her ill-feelings about Taylor Swift moving to NY. “She’s been here 6 months, made a song and now people are learning NY through her eyes. She’s trying to explain a bodega but has no real clue. It’s pretty disgusting.”

A brunching family

*Overheard from a woman talking on the phone (although not certain of context, was intrigued):

“I’ve worked SO hard for the last 17 years in this neighborhood. I refuse to let all that be taken from me."

The Overview:

Manny’s is charming, comfortable and inviting. Nice addition to what some call the “sleepy” section of Bed-Stuy. Coffee is solid but not too frilly. There isn’t a hefty flavor offering– no visible syrup bottles or advertised coffee flavors of the day. The variety of food alone is telling that they understand the diversity of their market (I mean, the menu has a vegan burger, Caribbean-inspired coco bread AND soulish short ribs.) If you poll the Yelp crowd, it’s a hit. The steady flow of customers during my three hour-stay confirmed that. People seem to genuinely like being here, as did I. As I’m signing off, a family comes in and Mike hugs the little girl and asks how her Halloween was. He remembers her name. Sweet.

If there is a downside I’d say that the price points are high, but considering their products (and I’m looking at the monster turkey Panini on another table – whoa.) I’m not shocked. Also, there is no Wi-Fi offered on weekends – which is hard on the folks (*points at self*) who come to do homework and such.

Manny’s is a comfy meeting place that reflects what Bed-Stuy is: mixed and busy and where people are coming in droves. Some are happy about that, others seemingly – not so much. Personally, I am hopeful that they remain true to the heart of the neighborhood and remain accessible to all. Good luck, Manny's.

My order today. P.S.: latte art makes me giddy:)